River estuaries are dynamic and productive ecosystems with high regional biodiversity. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has become a useful approach to assessing biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. This study was conducted to investigate fish community characteristics and species diversity in two river estuary ecosystems, the Taehwa River and Changwon Stream. We further compared conventional and eDNA metabarcoding analyses of the fish communities. The conventional survey was performed in May, July, and October 2022, while the eDNA analysis was conducted only in May. We observed various fish species with different life histories, including carp, goby, and marine fish. We also found that migratory fish, such as dace Tribolodon hakonensis, sweetfish Plecoglossus altivelis, and eel Auguilla japonica, occurred in the Taehwa River, suggesting high river connectivity. Marine fish species were predominant in the Changwon Stream, as this river is located close to the sea. The diversity indices showed that the Taehwa River generally had higher species richness, evenness, and diversity values than the Changwon Stream. A total of 9-19 species were detected in the conventional survey for the three sites, whereas 11-18 species were found from eDNA analysis. The findings indicate that the sensitivity of eDNA was similar to or higher than that of the conventional method. Our study findings suggest the efficiency and efficacy of eDNA-based fish community monitoring, although with some shortcomings in applying the genetic marker to Korean fish, including no clear-cut distinction for Korean endemic species and/or genetically closely related species groups.

Ethyl formate (EF) is a naturally occurring insecticidal compound and is used to control pests introduced from abroad, in quarantine, by a fumigation method. In particular, it is mainly used as a substitute for methyl bromide and is less toxic to humans and less harmful to plants. This study aimed to investigate the possible acute toxicity of EF to useful organisms, and how to reduce phytotoxicity in watermelon, zucchini, and oriental melon. After fumigation with EF for 2 h, the LC50 values for earthworms, honey bees, and silkworms were 39.9, 7.09, and 17.9 g m-3, respectively. The degree of susceptibility to EF was in the order of earthworms, silkworms, and honey bees based on the LC50 value, and EF fumigation induced stronger acute toxicity to honey bees. Phytotoxicity was observed in watermelon leaves treated with a concentration of 7.5 g m-3 EF, and when treated with a concentration of 10.0 g m-3, it was confirmed that the edges of watermelon leaves were charred and seemed to be damaged by acids. Zucchini and melon, and other cucurbits, showed strong damage to the leaves when treated with a concentration of 10 g m-3, and sodium silicate, at concentrations of 10% and 20%, was used to reduce phytotoxicity. Therefore, acute toxicity towards nontarget organisms and phytotoxicity during the fumigation of EF should be reduced for efficient agricultural pest control.

본 연구는 동해유입하천 (강릉 연곡천, 양양 남대천), 한강수계 (섬강, 속사천), 낙동강수계 (길안천)에 서식하는 참갈겨니 (Zacco koreanus) 개체군을 대상으로 채집된 110개 체로부터 미토콘드리아 DNA COI 유전자 (mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I)를 분자마커로 이용하여 계통지리학적 분석을 수행하고, 추가적으로 강릉 연곡천 상·중· 하류 개체군을 대상으로 집단유전학적 분석을 수행하였다. 계통지리학 분석 결과, 동해유입하천과 한강수계의 참갈겨니 개체군은 동일한 단일계통을 나타내었고, 낙동강수계의 개체군은 상이한 계통으로 분기됨을 나타내었으며, 다른 수계 계통과의 유전적 거리 수치 범위가 평균 4.0% (3.7~4.2%)로서 동일종 이상 수준을 보여 잠재종 가능성을 시사하였다. 참갈겨니가 서식하는 수계에 따른 형태학적 차이는 연구된 바 있으나 DNA 염기서열의 변이를 이용한 분자유전학적 연구는 부족한 실정이므로 본 연구 결과는 향후 낙동강수계 참갈겨니 개체군의 계통분류학적 연구에 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. 추후 집단유전체학 및 생태학적 분석을 통하여 관찰된 낙동강수계 계통이 다른 종, 잠재종 혹은 단순히 큰 수준의 종내 변이를 나타내는지에 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요하다. 강릉 연곡천 상·중·하류에 서식하는 개체군의 집단유전학 분석을 통해 중류의 개체군이 상대적으로 높은 다양성을 나타냈으며 상·중·하류 개체군 간의 유전적 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 이는 상·중·하류 개체군 간 유전자 확산이 원활하게 이루어지고 있음을 의미하며 하천의 개체군 간 연결성을 판단할 수 있는 지표로 활용될 수 있다. 하지만 생태학적 시간 스케일의 연구에 더 적합한 분자마커를 이용한 추후 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.